Steve Bruce has refused to change his Newcastle United side to play a four-at-the-back as staff behind the scenes ‘fear’ the defence lack the pace needed, according to the Chronicle.
The boss has contemplated bringing in a raft of changes to his system despite there only being three months left of the season, as he is well aware that change is needed to prevent the campaign turning into a relegation fight.
United currently sit seven points clear of the drop zone in 14th-place, but are without a win in our last four Premier League games and have not scored in either of our last three.
Bruce’s decision to utilise a 5-4-1 system away to Crystal Palace rarely presented much potential of ending our goal drought, either, with the Chronicle noting that Joelinton managed just two touches in the Eagles’ penalty area while neither of second-half substitute Dwight Gayle’s five touches came in the host’s box.
Both of our on-target efforts at Selhurst Park came from range, too, through Joelinton and Fabian Schar while Allan Saint-Maximin’s audacious chip from long distance was the closest he came to scoring.
The boss would more than happily ditch the 5-4-1 system in a heartbeat if he felt he had the players needed and instead favour a traditional 4-4-2, but fears it could take as long as six transfer windows to sign the required talent.
Should Bruce try 4ATB vs Burnley on Saturday?
Yes
No
Hammering defeats away to Leicester City and Arsenal are all the evidence Bruce needs to know he does not have the right players for a four-at-the-back system, while the pace of our defence is a cause for concern for other figures behind-the-scenes at St. James’ Park.
Only Jamaal Lascelles is considered to have the pace in his legs to be able to match the demands of playing as one of two centre-backs, leaving Fabian Schar – the North East Football Writer’s Association’s Player of the Year for 2019 – Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark and Florian Lejeune potentially at risk of the chop in the future.
In other Newcastle United news, the club face paying a record fee to sign a prolific 24-year-old this summer.